Vending machine



Aug. 25, 1953 Filed sept. 7, 1949 LW /fze lL c. w. TAwNl-:Y ETL lVENDINGMACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

CHESTER rAwMe'r.

SALVATORE J DEMARCO JR.

ATMWEY Aug. 25, 1953 c. w. TAwNEY ETAL 2,649,948

VENDING MACHINE Filed Sept. 7, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 SALVA-rane J @mancoJR. PAT H. HERmc/r WMU@ W7.

ATTORNEY Allg 25, 1953/ 1c. w. TAwNEY ErAL 2,649,948

VENDING MACHINE Filedsept. 7, 1949 s sheets-Sheet s yIAWENTR. @HES TERw. TA w/vEy SALVATORE z DEMARGO .//i

PAT H. HERR/0K BYMM.

TTORNEY Patented Aug. 25, 1953 UNITED STAT ES PATENT I OFFICE Chester'W. TvljiyNsallzllaAtilEemarco, Jr.,

and Pat H. Herrick, Baltimore, Md., assignors to Products ManufacturingCo., Inc.,l a. corporation of Maryland Applicationseptember 7, T949,Serial No. 114,415

((Jl.Y 194985.)

y Claims. l

This1 invention relates to vending machines and more'- particularly' tothe coin receiving mechanism of such a device, especially inA that itprovidesfor the automaticejection or return of coinsplaced in themachine during the times that the' latter for any reason cannot supplythe merchandized' product to the customer.

It has among its objects to provide a new and improved coin return andejectingmechanism in a vending machineI that will automatically ejectorreturn all coins when the machine is empty.

A further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved coinreturn and ejecting mechanism fora vending machine that will be simplein construction; effective in operation and economical to' install.

Other objects will become apparent as the invention is more fullydisclosed.

In the` type of vending machine described in U; S'. Patent No;234233,87'3, issued on January 6, 1948', to the` present applicant, theinsertion of a coin for-theV product in theV particular formillustrated, did not provide for its return` if the product was notforthcoming` or the coin was not of the proper type or size. The.disadvantageV of not being able to return the'v coin in such instancesis apparent and will not be` enlarged upon herein. This' inventionanticipates this objection and overcomes it primarily byproviding amechanism with` a deflector that diverts theV unwanted coin to" a returnchute where the customer entitled toitsreturn` can retrieve it. Todothis, the product acts onthe diverter that manipulates the mechanismby its size and produces the desired eilect, and theV resultingejectionor return of' the com.

For a fuller explanation of the' invention, its objects*7 operation, andthe-principlesunderwhich it functions, reference is made to the appendeddrawings. These drawings in conjunction with the following explanationoutline a particular form of the inventionbyway of example; while theclaims indicate its scope.

Referring tothe drawings Figurer is a front elevationv of a coinoperated vending machine embodying this invention;

Figure 2` is a plan view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 isa side* elevation of Figure 1;

Figure 4 isa view'looking up at the underside of Figure 1-;

Figure' 5 isi a sectional View taken through the machine alongY line5%-5A of' Figure 3; and showing the coin' return and-ej ectionmechanism;

Figurel 6 is asectionalv Viewv taken through the machine along lined- 6of Figure 1;`

Figure' '7v is a sectional view taken along line Figure 8 is a sectionalView taken along line 8 8 of Figure" 5;

Figure 9 is' a sectional viewv taken' along line 9 9? of Figurel 5;

Figurev 10v is a sectionalv view taken along line HIP-HJ-V of Figure 5;

Figure 11 is a sectional view taken along line il- H of Figure 5;

Figure 12 is a sectional view taken along line |-"2"-l2v ofk Figure 5 ;A

Figure 13 is a sectional view taken along line 1'3'- I3' of Figure 5;

Figure- 14 is a sectional view taken along line til-Ui of Figure 5, and

Figure 15- is a sectionalV View taken along line -S- t52 of` Figure 5.

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughoutl thedrawings.

The particular structure of a tablet vender shown in the drawings anddescribed herein consists' of' a housing preferably of rounded formadapted' to beY hung against a wall or vertical surface'. It ispreferably made up in three sections termed the cap 20, the body 21| andthe moneyk box 22, supported on a back bracket 23. The back bracket 2'3is provided with holes 24 preferably ccuntersunk'toreceive flat headscrews for attaching the bracket to the wall or other support. Thebracket is provided at its upper end withl an elongated slot 25- toreceive a fasteningscrew 2lil attachedto thecap 2i) to hold the venderto` the wall or other' support. The lower portion of the back bracket23- isprovided with a transverse l'ock slot 2'! and a shelf section 28for supporting' a partition 29 attached thereto by bolts and nutsThe-partition 29 is a support for the operating mechanisms of thevender. A circular ho1e3lA is located centrally in the partit-ion 29-and leads to thechamber 32 ofthe money box 2'2 Also another smallercircular hole 33 in the same partition is oiiset from the center andserves as an orifice for the passage of the tablets 3:41 to fallthrough;individually, when aligned therewith. A raised ridge 3'5 of arcuate formis concentrically formed on thec face of the partition 29:A to guide thetablets in their travel to the ori'ce 33. An' S-like lintel 36 hinged at31' to the upper face of the partition 29 slides over thesurfacetowardsthe center of the-partition in one direction when held open byV tablets314 pressing' against the ridge 35- and lintel 36, the orice is open andtowards the ridge 35r in the opposite direction sufficiently to allowthe curved hooked portion 39 of the lintel 36 to close over the orifice'33 when all the tablets have been dispensed, throughthe action of spring38- pressing outwardly; A projecting noder 40A on the inner 3 edge ofthe lintel 36 is employed to control a coin diverter 4l to direct theoperating coin into the money box 22 when a tablet has been dispensed,and to return the coin to the operator when the device is empty oftablets. A shelf 42 of segmental form is supported on vertical posts 43above the face of the partition 29 and held thereto by screws 45adjacent the position of the ridge 35 and hole 33 to allow a single rowof packages or tablets 34 to move along the face of the partition 29toward the discharge opening 33, and to prevent more than one tablet orpackage 34 from dropping through the discharge opening 33, Figure showsthe diverter 4| in position to return coins through the slot 41. Themoney box 22 has a dispensing chute or cup 45 formed interiorly for thedispensing of the tablets 34 when dropped into it through hole 33 andfor returning the coin to the owner through slot 41 and cup 4B when thevender is empty, through the action of the diverter 4I. The diverter 4iis actuated by the lintel node 49 when the vender is empty, so as todivert coins from the coin chute back to the customer when there are notablets to deliver. The diverter I is hinged at 48 and ordinarily ispositioned so the coins used to operate the Vender will pass directlyinto the money box 22 when the tablet product is normally dispensed fromthe machine. A spring 50 preferably of flat form is held in the recess49 of a coin tube 5l that contains the rectangular passage 52 for thecoins to travel in and actuates the diverter 4l to return the coin whenthe machine is empty. The opening 56 is closed by a tilting door 51tensioned by spring 58. The cap and body 2l are provided with bosses 53and 54 and held together by screws 55. The cap is formed with a coinslot 59 that is not large enough of itself to permit the insertion ofcoins to operate the vender. However, a relatively small knob or head 69revolves on top of the cap 20 in a recess 6| depressed in the latter totake it. The knob or head 59 has a stem 6E extended down from it intothe housing through a bushing 53 that serves to keep it straight andprevent sidewise movement while at the same time serving as a bearing inwhich to rotate it. The knob or head has a rectangular slot G4 in itsstem 62 and through its longitudinal axial area leading into the cap 20.At the entrance of the slot 64 the size is reduced, so it has to alignwith the slot 59 to provide sufficient length for the coin selected topass into it, and thence through the axial area down into the coin tubeof the vender. The slots 59 and 54 are normally located so the customeris not required to turn the knob to align them so he can insert the coinof the proper size. This alignment is accomplished through a spring 65attached to a pin 69 positioned in the recess 6i of the cap 29 and theother end of the spring attached to a pin 6l positioned in the knob 69and keeps the slots 59 and 64 in alignment. When the coin is inserted inthe knob it falls down through the slot 54 and between one set of theradial nns B9 formed in the rotatable collar iii which is attached tothe magazine 1l. However, when the coin reaches the magazineit isstopped by a slot 84 in the partition 'l2 at the top of coin tube 5ithat is of smaller diameter than the coin used, and engages between oneset of radial fins projecting vertically above the coin tube 5i andwithin the magazine and acts as a key to lock the knob stem and magazinetogether so the magazine can be rotated enough to dispense one tablet orcontainer and drop the coin into the money box. The rotation of the knoband magazine revolves the coin in its vertical position to and over theenlarged notches 'I3 in the partition 'i2 which is of the same diameteras radial fins and slightly larger than coin used, and aligned with theenlarged passage and rectangular passage 52 in the coin tube 5! and thelargest passage, is large enough for the coin used. The magazine l l ispositioned and rotates on the coin tube 5E which is substantiallyparallel to the columns of the magazine, which are hollowed out to holdthe tablets 34 in one position so they will slide down onto thepartition 29 in proper sequence and in rotative movement as explained inprevious patent referred to and also described herein. The tube 5l isarranged with a rectangular passage52 for the coin to pass through onits way to the disposal chamber 32. A groove '15 in the wall of themagazine 1l allows the shelf 28 to slide therethrough as it is rotatedand keep the tablets 34 from falling down indiscriminatingly into thecup 46 but not obstructing the dispensing of the tablets or units one ata time in the proper sequence. The money box 22 is attached to thepartition 29 and held there by adjustable screws 18 which i'lt intoslots "i9 in breechlock fashion, and allow various adjustments to bemade to tightly t the money box 22 to the partition and other parts ofthe vender. The vender is then secured to the back bracket 23 by a lock80 mounted in the bottom wall 8i of the money box 22 when operated by akey 83 in the usual manner causes the tongue 82 to engage in slot 2l inthe back bracket 23 so the money box section or the vender cannot beremoved from the wall except by unlatching the lock with a key andraising the vender so the screw 25 will be released from the slot 25 inthe back bracket which has been attached to a wall or other support.

In the operation of the machine, the user if necessary turns the knob 60until its vertical slot 54 is aligned with the angular slot 59 in thecap 29, so a coin or slug 58 of the proper size can be inserted. Theslots contemplate the use through them of any item of predetermined formthat may be employed for operating the vender, whether it be ofconventional coin or slug form or not. The term coin is intended toinclude any item of this nature, without requiring further detailingthereof. The coin inserted passes through the passage 54 in the stem 62vertically or on edge, until it wedges between the walls of this passage54 and between the particular fins 59 immediately aligned therewith.Further turning of the knob will move the stem 62, the coin 6B and thenhs 69. The fins 52 being integrally formed on the rotatable magazine 'Hand locked for the moment with the stem 62 by the coin 6B, are rotatedwhen the knob E-tis turned. The coin 5B cannot pass through the tubepassage in the magazine because it is obstructed by the face of the cointube 5i which is stationary. However when the magazine, together withits tablets in the columns are revolved enough to bring the coin 6B inline with the passage 52 in the coin tube 5l and free of the obstructingsurface of the face of the coin tube 5I, it falls down unobstructedthrough the passage 59 and passes the diverter 4I, into the moneychamber 32. Since one of the columns with tablets therein is alignedwith the cup 45 and its lowest tablet has been segregated by and underthe shelf 42, so it is over the open hole 33 in partition 29 during lthelrotation of 'the magazine by the :knob 60, .it

falls down `through the cup Vvi6 and Vlands against the door 57. Thecustomer Vraises the ldoor and removes the tablet.

Should no tablet be aligned with the .hole 33 in this step of thedispensing, .thenthe lintel mechanism comes into action under thetension of the spring 33 to move over the opening 63 and close it, whilethe node 40 of the lintel 36 movesaway from the diverter 4| and Aallows.the latter, under pressure of spring `'56, vto move and to change thecourse of the coin rfrom the money box to the cup, where it can be takenout by the customer.

After the coin 68 is inserted in the slots 59 and 64 and lins 69 androtates the magazine one space and coin is released to the coin tube,the knob revolves backwards to vits starting point under the action ofthe spring and the device is ready for operation by the next customer,in the same manner as above described. The magazine is prevented fromrevolving backwards by a ratchet 'i6 mounted on the magazine or carrierand a spring or pawl 'Vi aixed Vto the stationary coin tube 5irespectively.

The money box 22 is removed periodically to take out the money and thenbe returned and locked in place. The tablets are `stored in the magazinesingly or in specified quantities-as may be desirable or necessary andare termed units. The term unit being employed to include either singleor plural tablets dispensable at a time for each single coin. The knob`66 is returnable to a denite location on the housing so its slot willautomatically align with the slot of the housing. It assumes thisposition under the tension of a spring 65 fastened to thevknob andhousing cap as previously explained.

While but one general form of the invention is shown in the drawingsvand described in vthe specifications, it is not .desired to limit thisapplication for patent to this .particular form, as it is appreciatedthat other forms of construction could be made that would use .the sameprinciples and come within'the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

l. A dispensing machine operable by coin manipulation, comprising incombination, a housing, a tablet magazine-rotatable in said housing,said magazine being arranged to store a plurality of tablets disposed inindividual units one above the other and in columns arcuately positionedwithin the magazine and deliverable in single units at the bottom, ashelf extending into the magazine on which the tablets can slidablyrotate and arranged to allow each column of tablets to alignconsecutively therewith and release a unit therefrom individually at atime for its removal from the magazine, a coin tube within the magazinefor guiding said coin therethrough, a knob rotatable on the housing andhaving a lateral slot for the insertion of the coin therein and an axialpassage through the knob communicating with said slot for guiding the.coin to the tube and to the magazine and bridging and keying the knoband magazine together whereby the further rotation of the knob willproduce corresponding rotation in the magazine -and bring each columnselectively to said position of release, saidmagazine being arranged toalign itself with said tube in said position-andvdrop the coin from its`bridging positioninto the tube, a coin box inthe housing adapted toreceive the coin from said tube, a :delivery cup in the housingalgnablevalso with the column in its releasing position for receivingthe unit dispensed therefrom simultaneously with the dropping of thecoin, and means for returning the knob to its normal position on thehousing ready for the next coin to be inserted, without moving saidmagazine during said return, and a plate in the housing on which themagazine rests including an opening therein for the unit to dropthrough, means operating in the housing adjacent said shelf for leavingthe opening through which the unit may fall to the Vcup open as long asthere are tablet units in the `magazine to press it open.

2. A dispensing machine operable by coin manipulation, comprising incombination, a housing, a table magazine rotatable in said housing, saidVmagazine being arranged to store la plurality of tablets disposed inindividual units one above the other and in columns arcuately positionedwithin the magazine and deliverable in single units at the bottom, ashelf extending into the magazine on which the tablets can slidablyrotate and arranged to allow each column of tablets to alignconsecutively therewith and release a unit therefrom individually at atime for its removal from the magazine a coin tube within the magazinefor guiding said coin therethrough, a knob rotatable on the housingincluding a slot for the insertion of the coin therein and guiding it to'the magazine and bridging and keying the knob and magazine'togetherwhereby the further rotation of the knob will produce correspondingrotation in the magazine .and bring each column selectively to saidposition of release, said magazine being arranged to align itself withsaid tube :in said position and drop thercoin from its bridging positioninto the tube, a lcoin box in the housing adapted to receive the coinfrom said tube, a delivery cup in the housing alignable also with thecolumn in its releasing position for receiving the unit dispensedtherefrom simultaneously with the dropping of the coin, and means forreturning the knob to its normal position on the housing ready for thenext coin to be inserted, without moving said magazine during saidreturn, a plate in the housing on which the magazine rests includingan'opening therein for the unit to drop through, means operating in thehousing adjacent .said shelf Afor leaving the opening through which theunit may fall to the cup open as long `as there are tablet units in themagazine to press it open, and a diverter mounted in the housing hingedin said coin tube and including means actuated by said last mentionedmeans when `all the tablet units have been emptied from the magazine toguide the coin inserted in the housing to said cup.

3. A dispensing machine operable by coin manipulation, comprising incombination, a housing, a tablet magazine rotatable Vin said housing,said magazine being-arranged to store a plurality of tablets disposed`in individual units one above the other and i-n columns arcuatelypositioned within the magazine and deliverable in single units at thebottom, a shelf extending into the magazine on which the tablets canslidably rotate and arranged to `allow each column of tablets to alignconsecutively therewith and release a unit therefrom individually at atime for its removal from the magazine, a coin tube within the magazinefor guiding said-coin therethrough, a knob rotatableon the housingincluding a slot for the insertion of the Vcoin therein and Vguiding itto the magazine and bridging and keying the knob and magazine togetherwhereby the further rotation of the knob Will produce correspondingrotation in the magazine and bring each column selectively to saidposition of release, said magiazine being arranged to align itself withsaid tube in said position and drop the coin from its bridging positioninto the tube, a coin box in the housing adapted to receive the coinfrom said tube, a delivery cup in the housing alignable also with thecolumn in its releasing position for receiving the unit dispensedtherefrom simultaneously with the dropping of the coin, and means forreturning the knob to its normal position on the housing ready for thenext coin to be inserted, without moving said magazine during saidreturn, a plate in the housing on which the magazine rests including anopening therein for the unit to drop through, means operating in thehousing adjacent said shelf for leaving the opening through which theunit may fall to the cup open as long as there are tablet units in themagazine to press it open, a diverter mounted in the housing hinged insaid coin tube and including means actuated by said last mentioned meanswhen all the tablet units have been emptied from the magazine to guidethe coin inserted in the housing to said cup, and a ratchet mechanismconnected between the stationary coin tube and the magazine forpreventing the latter from being reversed in direction.

4. A dispensing machine operable by coin manipulation, comprising incombination, a housing, a tablet magazine rotatable in said housing,said magazine being arranged to store a plurality of tablets disposed inindividual units one above the other and in columns arcuately positionedwithin the magazine and deliverable in single units at the bottom, ashelf extending into the magazine on which the tablets can slidablyrotate and arranged to allow each column of tablets to alignconsecutively therewith and release a unit therefrom individually at atime for its removal from the magazine, a coin tube within the magazinefor guiding said coin therethrough, a knob rotatable on the housingincluding a slot for the insertion of the coin therein and guiding it tothe magazine and bridging and keying the knob and magazine togetherwhereby the further rotation of the knob will produce correspondingrotation in the magazine and bring each column selectively to saidposition of release, said magazine being arranged to align itself withsaid tube in said position and drop the coin from its bridging positioninto the tube, a coin box in the housing adapted to receive the coinfrom said tube, a delivery cup in the housing alignable also with thecolumn in its releasing position for receiving the unit dispensedtherefrom simultaneously with the dropping of the coin, and means forreturning the knob to its normal position on the housing ready for thenext coin to be inserted, without moving said magazine during saidreturn, a plate in the housing on which the magazine rests including anopening therein for the unit to drop through, means operating in thehousing adjacent said shelf for leaving the opening through which theunit may fall to the cup open as long as there are tablet units in themagazine to press it open, a diverter mounted in the housing hinged insaid coin tube and including means actuated by said last mentioned meanswhen all the tablet units have been emptied from the magazine to guidethe coin inserted in the housing to said cup, a ratchet mechanismconnected between the stationary coin tube and the magazine forpreventing the latter from being reversed in direction, and a section ofthe housing adapted for closing in the money box, and means for lockingthe box in said section.

5. A dispensing machine operable by coin manipulation, comprising incombination, a housing, a tablet magazine rotatable in said housing,said magazine being arranged to store a plurality of tablets disposed inindividual units one above the other and in columns arcuately positionedwithin the magazine and deliverable in single units at the bottom, ashelf extending into the magazine on which the tablets can slidablyrotate and arranged to allow each column of tablets to alignconsecutively therewith and release a unit therefrom individually at atime for its removal from the magazine, a coin tube within the magazinefor guiding said coin therethrough, a knob rotatable on the housingincluding a slot for the insertion of the coin therein and guiding it tothe magazine and bridging and keying the knob and magazine togetherwhereby the further rotation of the knob will produce correspondingrotation in the magazine and bring each column selectively to saidposition of release, said magazine being arranged to align itself withsaid tube in said position and drop the coin from its bridging positioninto the tube, a coin box in the housing adapted to receive the coinfrom said tube, a delivery cup in the housing alignable also with thecolumn in its releasing position for receiving the unit dispensedtherefrom simultaneously with the dropping of the coin, and means forreturning the knob to its normal position on the housing ready for thenext coin to be inserted, without moving said magazine during saidreturn, a plate in the housing on which the magazine rests including anopening therein for the unit to drop through, means operating in thehousing adjacent said shelf for leaving the opening through which theunit may fall to the cup open as long as there are tablet units in themagazine to press it open, a diverter mounted in the housing hinged insaid coin tube and including means actuated by said last mentioned meanswhen all the tablet units have been emptied from the magazine to guidethe coin inserted in the housing to said cup, a ratchet mechanismconnected between the stationary coin tube and the magazine forpreventing the latter from being reversed in direction, a section of thehousing adapted for closing in the money box, and means for locking thebox in said section, said housing being in plural sections for enablingits upper, bottom and middle sections to be detached from each other andattaining access to the magazine and mechanisms within it forinspection, repair and replacement purposes.

CHESTER, W. TAWNEY. SALVATORE J. DEMARCO, JR. PAT H. HERRICK.

References Cited in the i'lle 0f this patent UNITED STATES PATENTSNumber Name Date 591,515 Webber Oct. 12, 1897 1,196,574 Millard Aug. 29,1916 1,274,261 Grover VJuly 30, 1918 1,975,540 Folger Oct. 2, 19342,343,578 Rabens Mar. 7, 1944 2,433,873 Tawney Jan. 6, 1943

